India flags glacier retreat as livelihood crisis at global conference in Tajikistan
New Delhi: The retreat of glaciers is not only a warning but an immediate reality with far-reaching implications for water security, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of billions of people, minister of state for environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said on Saturday.
Addressing a plenary session at a high-level international conference on Glaciers' Preservation in Tajikistan's Dushanbe, Singh highlighted the global and regional consequences of glacial retreat, and that the phenomenon is accelerating, with disproportionate impacts on mountain regions such as the Himalayas.
He reiterated India's deep-rooted concern, as a country intrinsically connected to the Himalayan ecosystem, and outlined a series of ongoing initiatives aimed at glacial monitoring and climate adaptation, a statement issued by the environment ministry said.
Singh highlighted that India is undertaking strategic actions under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) — a key component of India's National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) — as well as the establishment of a Centre for Cryosphere and Climate Change Studies, designed to advance research and monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region.
'India is leveraging advanced Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), to systematically monitor changes in glacier mass, extent, and dynamics. These efforts are further strengthened through coordinated research by key national institutions, including the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), National Institute of Hydrology (NIH), Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, and the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment (NIHE),' Singh said.
These initiatives are crucial to advancing scientific understanding of glacier systems and supporting data-driven policy formulation for the sustainable management of India's water resources, he added.
'India has strengthened disaster preparedness in the Himalayan region through improved early warning systems and Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) risk mapping, coordinated by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Regional cooperation was underscored as vital for strengthening resilience, improving data-sharing frameworks, and fostering coordinated responses to the challenges facing mountain ecosystems,' Singh informed.
Singh stressed India's commitment to equity and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR–RC) in international climate action. He emphasised that while South Asia contributes minimally to global cumulative emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘UP emerges as backbone of India's defence sector'
Lucknow: Crediting the Modi-Yogi leadership for transforming the state into a hub of military manufacturing and exports, Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh on Sunday said that Uttar Pradesh is emerging as the backbone of India's defence sector. Sharing insights on platform X, Singh said, "From rifles to rockets, UP is forging India's defence future. Our state is now a symbol of self-reliance, innovation, and global impact." The state hosts seven ordnance factories, three HAL units, and two Indo-Russian ventures — the AK-203 rifle unit in Amethi and the BrahMos missile facility in Lucknow. Six Defence Corridor nodes, three testing beds, South Asia's largest arms complex (Adani Defence, Kanpur), and the country's first strategic materials complex (PTC Industries, Lucknow) further underline UP's strategic importance. Global players like MKU Limited and Lohia Aerospace from Kanpur export to over 100 countries, reinforcing UP's position in the international defence supply chain. Singh hailed this as a hallmark of Aatmanirbhar Bharat , saying, "Under PM Modi and CM Yogi, UP is not only securing India but also generating jobs, driving innovation, and placing the state on the global defence map."
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
"Gaganyaan Just Beginning": Astronaut Angad Pratap On India's Space Future
New Delhi: As India embarks on its ambitious Gaganyaan program, the journey of its astronaut designates offers a glimpse into the nation's future in human spaceflight. Among them is Group Captain Angad Pratap, a fighter pilot and test pilot of the highest order, who shared his experiences and insights into the rigorous training and the promise of India's space endeavours. The journey began in January 2020 when Mr Pratap and three other astronaut designates were selected for the prestigious Gaganyaan program, which is scheduled for launch early in 2027. "It's been a long journey till now. It's been five years. We trained for approximately 14 months at Russia's Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, a place steeped in history and tradition. We were trained as cosmonauts in the Soyuz spacecraft and we had a bit of format training on the Russian segment of the International Space Station as well." After completing their training in Russia, the astronauts returned to India for another round of training at the astronaut training facility in Bangalore. "We have been trained on the human-rated launch vehicle, the basic theoretical subjects related to astronautics, as well as the Gaganyaan spacecraft," Me Pratap explained. "A portion of which is remaining, which we will restart closer to the mission." Reflecting on his experience at the Russian training school, Mr Pratap described it as "wonderful to begin with because that is a place with five decades of legacy". He noted the significance of training at a facility where astronauts from around the world have honed their skills. "From 2011 till about 2020, all astronauts of the world had to come to Moscow to train, since Soyuz was the only vehicle flying to space back then," he said. Standing beside a scale model of the crew module, Mr Pratap expressed confidence in the development of the actual spacecraft at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the UR Rao Satellite Centre. "There is no denying the fact that not only me but all the other three astronauts as well-and I can say this for the entire space community-ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) has a very big name in the world of space," Mr Pratap added. He cited ISRO's achievements, including the Mars Orbiter Mission and Chandrayaan-3, as examples of the agency's credibility. "There has to be a great level of trust between a space traveller and his agency. Being a test pilot, I'm aware of the kind of testing protocols and how robust they are before a final product is cleared for spaceflight." The astronaut designates have visited major ISRO testing facilities, which Mr Pratap said has been a major confidence booster. "It's worked as a very big confidence-building measure and a boost to our trust in the vehicle." Mr Pratap also expressed satisfaction with the human-rated Launch Vehicle Mark-3, which is nearing completion. "I am more than happy. In aerospace, we don't go for big changes very soon. If a system is already proven and working, you don't change it just for comfort. Changes introduce new failure points." He emphasised that ISRO has wisely chosen to rely on its most robust and tested systems for the Gaganyaan mission. "And when it comes to the GSLV Mk3, or LVM-3, the whole world has immense trust in it. It has an enviable 100 per cent success record." Despite the long wait for a flight assignment, Mr Pratap remains grounded and patient. "Spaceflight takes time. We were awarded our space wings just last year. Globally, astronauts wait five to six years after that. Thomas Pesquet waited almost eight years," he noted. He added, "Anyone who wants to be an astronaut must accept that most of their 15-year astronaut career will be spent on Earth, working for science. It's not just about the flight. It's about patience, training, and character building." Mr Pratap and his fellow astronaut designates continue to keep their training sharp through regular technical meetings with ISRO and occasional flying stints with the Indian Air Force. "We go back to IAF once in a while and fly. Our engagement with ISRO includes regular interaction with designers and hardware developers. So both our piloting and test piloting skills are being maintained." Looking ahead, Mr Pratap is optimistic about India's broader space ambitions. "We need to think as Indians first and consider what we are about to achieve in the next two decades in spaceflight." He praised ISRO's parallel strategy in developing human spacecraft, docking systems, space station modules and lunar return capabilities. "ISRO is building all of this in parallel. The same capability that will bring back lunar samples will one day take humans to the moon and bring them back," he said. With government support and new funding, India is also developing a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle. "It's for building bigger space stations in the future. The human space program is expanding, and things are looking good for us." When asked if he might one day go to the moon. Mr Pratap smiled and said, "It's too early to say. But what matters is that the nation progresses. Whether it's me or someone else, we should all be proud." As for Gaganyaan, he remains excited but measured. "Of course, I'm excited. But I'm also controlling my excitement. Let it happen at the right pace. Even if it's delayed by a year or more, what matters is that we have a successful mission."
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
IIT-Delhi launches 4-year BS in Chemistry programme
New Delhi, The Indian Institute of Technology , Delhi, will offer a new four-year undergraduate programme BS in Chemistry from the 2025 academic session, officials said on Sunday. It is the first Bachelors in Science programme which will be offered at the premier institute in the national capital. S Nagendran, Head of Chemistry at IIT-Delhi, described the new programme as "addressing the need to introduce multi-disciplinarity at an early level in chemical science education while simultaneously preserving the comprehensive and in-depth chemistry training expected from a pure sciences graduate". "It has been seen over time that, on one hand, engineering graduates frequently lack the depth of fundamental scientific knowledge necessary to conduct research in pure sciences, while on the other hand, pure chemistry graduates sometimes overlook engineering fundamentals," he said. Entry to this programme will be through JEE . Candidates qualifying the JEE will be able to opt for it through the JoSAA 2025 portal. Ravi P Singh, BS Chemistry programme coordinator, informed that during the initial two semesters of the first year, students will engage in common courses, akin to the first year of any BTech programme, establishing a solid foundation in sciences and basic engineering principles. "The second year will focus on core courses in chemistry. From the third year onwards, the curriculum introduces multidisciplinary courses with well-designed research components that will further extend into the fourth year. One unique feature is the opportunity for students to pursue a Minor in another department alongside their BS in Chemistry," Singh said. "The overall goal will be to train students in core chemistry topics, who will be able to relate the molecular fundamentals with the solution-driven approach of an engineer, thereby allowing them to impact global challenges with chemistry-based real-world solutions," he added. According to Singh, graduates of this programme will be poised to enter the pharmaceuticals, semiconductor, materials, manufacturing, defence, oil and gas, chemical consulting, automotive and petrochemical industries.
